MSP refuses to stand down over Labour donations crisis

Published on Saturday 8 December 2007 01:14

CHARLIE Gordon, the MSP at the centre of the donations controversy engulfing the Scottish Labour Party has pledged to stay on despite calls for him to quit.

Mr Gordon, a former leader of Glasgow City Council, accepted two donations from Jersey-based businessman Paul Green, claiming he was unaware that the 950 donations were illegal because Mr Green is not registered in the UK to vote.

The controversy has plunged the Scottish Labour Party into crisis and threatened the future of its new leader, Wendy Alexander, whose campaign for the leadership benefited from one of the payments.

When the allegations first emerged, it was revealed that Mr Gordon had secured the donations and the MSP was widely expected to quit - particularly after Mr Green said he was reassured by Mr Gordon that both donations were above board.

Yesterday, however, the MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, who has quit as Scottish Labour's transport spokesman, said he would remain in post until an investigation by the Electoral Commission was completed.

Although Mr Gordon has distanced himself from the Labour Party, his decision to stay on averts a potentially damaging by-election and also leaves the possibility of a sacrificial lamb to take the heat once the Electoral Commission's investigation is complete.

In a video statement on his website, www.charlesgordonmsp.com Mr Gordon reiterated his claim of innocence. He said: "Last week, I realised I had unwittingly made serious errors in connection with two political donations of under 1,000.

"I immediately alerted and apologised to those whom I had unwittingly misled and resigned as shadow transport minister.

"I also reported the matter to the Electoral Commission and they are now in dialogue with me, so I can't say any more."

Mr Gordon, 56, went on to defend his local-government record. He said he had helped regenerate Glasgow, but "snide innuendoes" had been made about gifts and hospitality, business trips and planning consents.

Mr Gordon also thanked his constituents for their support and said he would await the Electoral Commission's report before making further career decisions.

However, Sandra White, the SNP list MSP for Glasgow, said:

"It is clear Charlie Gordon is not prepared to walk the plank for his Labour colleagues [or] take the blame for Team Alexander's illegal actions.

"Wendy Alexander and her team have admitted accepting illegal donations. It is not credible for those involved in Wendy Alexander's campaign to claim innocence and keep their jobs."

Ms White also accused Labour of not wanting to fight a by-election in Cathcart because of the SNP's high opinion poll ratings.

If the SNP was to take one more seat from Labour, it would give Alex Salmond a majority of three seats over the second-biggest party, as opposed to the present one-seat margin.